I was recently contacted by an inspiring young researcher who is only in high school but is working on an awesome research project to understand how cancer impacts mental health in adolescents. She said, "I became interested in this topic because I knew somebody close to me who was diagnosed with cancer as a teen, and I became interested with how this age group differs from the other age groups but is often treated the same ways."

She is looking for adolescents who are currently going through treatment, and are 15-19 years old, or who went through treatment at that age, to complete a short survey she has put together. The survey aims to determine how adolescents feel about their treatment, especially in regards to mental health and psychosocial needs. According to her, "The data will be used as part of a larger research project looking into ways to improve treatment for adolescents with cancer, which is a very marginalized group in the cancer community."

You can complete the survey by clicking HERE. The questions you will see are listed below!

What was the transition like for you when you were diagnosed with cancer?

What was your environment like? Were you treated more in a pediatric setting throughout your cancer treatment or in an adult setting?

How were you able to be involved in your treatment options and the treatment of your cancer? How do you feel this could have impacted you?

What differences did you notice that differentiated how you might deal with cancer as opposed to somebody both younger and older than you?

How do you feel community and having a strong support system can help a cancer patient, especially if they are an adolescent?

How can having a group of peers going through the same thing impact an adolescent patient, and do you have any experience of this happening?

Have you seen any changes from the beginning of your diagnosis to now that target psychosocial needs when treating cancer in adolescents? If so, what are these and how have they helped or worsened the issue?

How was the hospital you were treated at treating mental health? Was this beneficial to you or other patients?

How do you feel hospitals could work to target psychosocial needs more for adolescent cancer patients that would improve overall patient care?